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RabbiMoshe Chaim Ephraim, Degel Machaneh Efraim:It is best to be always united…when they unite below, they cause their root above to unite too.

What does it mean that by uniting below, we cause our root above to unite too? The moment we unite, we oblige our upper one to unite. We know this from the structure of the upper system: Above us, there is a Partzuf that cares about us, called Aba ve Ima (father and mother), Hochma and Bina, and above it, there is Keter, the Creator. Hochma and Bina are two parts, two desires, two attributes, Hassadim and Hochma.

Through our desire to connect, we give rise to the connection between them. Without this, they are “turned away” from each other, that is, they are not connected to each other, and so the Light is not revealed within the creature.

The moment we want to unite, we arouse their connection. Then, the Light passes through them to us and fills us. Thus, when we connect below, we call upon the connection in the upper one, and it brings the Light from Keter through Aba ve Ima (Hochma and Bina) to us, to ZON (Zeir Anpin and Nukva). And this is how we reach correction.

So, it is all achieved by our connection, and not even in the connection itself, but in our desire to connect. We have to desire with all our might to connect with each other, to try to unite. The connection is carried out from Above. The Light comes and connects the desires.

Whenever we feel a desire to connect or the lack thereof, we should realize our yearning to be one. When we feel different disturbances, even the slightest and weakest ones, it is important to pay attention to them and to build the connection on top of them.

Then, we will rise above the great mass of small disturbances that separate us and will finally arouse the first connection between the upper Aba ve Ima so that they will pass onto us the Light of Hochma dressed in the Light of Hassadim. With the help of the Light of Hassadim, we will acquire the intention to bestow, the Light of Hochma will fill the intention, and then we will feel the upper reality.

This should really happen and be felt inside us. It all depends on our efforts. We will do it! So, whatever we do, let’s devote all the time during the convention to being above the body all the time, above all personal thoughts. I want to “lose” myself in others, I want to feel “we,” and not “me,” “you,” or “him.” I want to feel us connected into one whole: one desire and one thought and try to hold on to that as hard as I can.

It’s like a weight lifter who needs to lift a weight above his head and hold it for several moments. This is enough—he has reached the desired result. It is the same with us. All of us together have to raise our desires and thoughts above us, hold them together for one moment, and it will happen![61216] From Lesson 1, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

I am confused. Do we need to first unite above, and from above unite below? Do we need to first unite below, and from below unite above? Do both of these need to happen at the same time? Is this post simply talking about one perspective of the process [from below to above] and leaving out the other part [from above to below]?

or is this simply discussing an intellectual dynamic that exists, that uniting occurs both above and below. Either way, please clarify.

or that phrase of “oseh shalom” something that Baal HaSulaam/B’nei Baruch does not deal with. Either way, I remain confused -_-.